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In an ideal world, there would be no debate as to the right of a parent to be fully
informed about the well-being of their child. Ideally, every parent would share the
highest level of concern for their sons\u2019 and daughters\u2019 physical and emotional health;
their natural protective instinct would be supplemented with an understanding of
the complexities behind mental disorders, physical impairments and behavioral
conditions that are difficult to understand unless experienced firsthand.

There would be no stigmas attached to certain health matters (both inside and
outside the home), and thus no need to hide or disguise those diseases that the non-
ideal society could not or would not accept as legitimate, real or worthy of an
empathetic response.

Freed from constraint, the child afflicted with an eating disorder (or any serious
health matter) would not hesitate to involve their parents early and with complete
honesty, knowing that they will be heard, understood and protected no matter what
they say or how they say it.

The ideal parent would respond rationally, without judgment and demonstrate
their unconditional support by obtaining the best available crisis care treatment for
their child, securing long-term aftercare, and being an active and empathetic
participant in their sons\u2019 or daughters\u2019 process of recovery.

It goes without saying that the world we live in is not the one hypothesized
above. Biases exist with and without malice; teenagers rarely count their parents
among those in their support system; and society remains (for the most part) ill-
informed and suspicious about many, if not all, emotional and psychological
disorders. Shame is a very real and powerful factor, both for the afflicted child and
the adults who are part of their life.

Eating disorders are often viewed as a matter of choice or lack of
willpower, and not understood to be as involuntary as a heart attack or
other traditional physical malady;

The stigmas attached to eating disorders are powerful and pervasive
enough to cause many otherwise responsible parents to ignore or deny a
child\u2019s health condition outside society\u2019s zone of acceptance and
empathy;

Even where robust support systems exist outside of the home, few
people know where to go or how to address treatment of eating
disorders and other emotionally-associated conditions.

This sampling of uncomfortable truths is by no means complete, but it does
demonstrate the need for a\u2018safe haven\u2019 for kids in which they are able to disclose
their situation without fear of parental reaction, interference or judgment. The safe
haven in many cases for many children exists only with a general medical
professional, their therapist, a social worker or through a representative of their
church or spiritual organization.

It is no coincidence that in each of the examples above, state and federal law in most cases protects both the adult in those professions and the person seeking their counsel from disclosure of any aspect of their interactions.

So what happens if that legal protection no longer exists? It is less than
reasonable to expect parents to step into the breach, for biases to dissolve or for
teenagers to suddenly embrace the wisdom of their parents.

More likely, without such legal safe havens, our children would be deprived of a
rare opportunity to have their health condition recognized, addressed and treated
with respect by individuals with relevant ethical and professional training.